On Saturday, Feb. 27, Pakistan declared “open war” with Afghanistan, a decision that followed increasing tension and unrest in the Middle East. Both countries have been in conflict in recent months, with border skirmishes, bombings and meetings straining relations.
The Pakistani government declared “open war” after the Taliban announced it would begin attacking along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, also called the Durand Line. This announcement came soon after missile strikes on Afghanistan, which, according to BBC, the Taliban claimed killed at least 18 people and were targeted at civilians. However, the Pakistani government claimed that the attacks were targeted at military settlements along the Durand Line. These strikes happened on Feb. 22.
After declaring war with Afghanistan, Pakistan sent more missile strikes, this time to major cities within the country. Reuters reported that on Feb. 27, Pakistan struck Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan; Kandahar, where the Taliban leaders are located; and various other towns. The Taliban expressed after these missile strikes that they would like to resolve this conflict nonviolently, if possible.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has always tried to resolve issues through dialogue, and now also we want to resolve this matter through dialogue,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement on Feb. 27.
Tensions between the two countries have been reaching a fever pitch since Oct. 9, when explosions were reported in Kabul. These explosions were allegedly targeted at the Pakistani Taliban’s senior officials, like its chief, Noor Wali Mehsud. Al Jazeera asked army spokesman, Ahmad Sharif, if the Pakistani military had attacked Afghanistan to assassinate leaders of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Pakistani Taliban.
“Afghanistan is being used as a base of operations against Pakistan,” Sharif claimed, “and there is proof and evidence of that.” He went on to say, “The necessary measures that should be taken to protect the lives and property of the people of Pakistan will be taken and will continue to be taken.”
After these attacks, a ceasefire was mediated by Qatar and talks were held in Istanbul, Türkiye. These talks resulted in no agreement and tensions were inflamed as both sides pinned responsibility on one another.
After the talks, Afghanistan’s government spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, pinned responsibility of the unsettled peace talks on Pakistan, stating, “Pakistan’s demands in the negotiations were unreasonable and the talks could not proceed. The meeting ended and the talks are at a standstill for now.”
Pakistani officials have blamed Afghanistan for housing members of the TTP while they continue to carry out attacks on Pakistan. The TTP have been blamed for increasing attacks on Pakistani soil in recent years. According to The Associated Press, the TTP and the Afghanistani Taliban are closely aligned but both still deny any accusation of the TTP operating freely in Afghanistan.
These heated meetings have led Pakistan and Afghanistan down a path that resulted in them entering the first stages of a war. And while this war is going on, so too is the war Israel and the U.S. have waged against Iran. There is constant tension within the Middle East and escalations have not ceased in many years. The more wars that start, the worse of a precedent it sets for the future of the region. But hopefully peaceful conclusions can be reached and the circumstances facing civilians in the region can be improved. Afghanistan seems to be interested in peace talks with Pakistan, meaning a nonviolent resolution may come soon in the future.
Article by Elliott Gardener and Ty Jones